[From lymphangioma to lymphangiomatosis. Apropos of 10 cases]

Seven cases of lymphangioma and 3 cases of diffuse lymphangiomatosis have been studied with computed tomography (CT). In the 7 cases of local involvement, the tumor was located in the mediastinum (3 cases), the mesentery (2 cases), the spleen (1 case), and the pelvis (1 case). The disease was diffuse in 3 cases, involving the mesentery, the pelvis, the posterior mediastinum, the retroperitoneal space and the bones in the first case; in the second case, lymphangiomatosis was located in the posterior mediastinum, the spine (T12 and L3) and the right iliac wing; the third case showed diffuse involvement of the posterior mediastinum and of the spleen. The CT study allows suspecting the disease when it demonstrates an encapsulated tumor with liquid or fatty density and thin walls enhancing with contrast. Other, less typical appearances may be observed, which should not lead to challenging this diagnosis. The CT exploration provides a complete assessment of the lesions, including the detection of tumors not seen on plain radiographs. In addition, CT is useful for the prognosis since it identifies the diffuse forms, which are naturally prone to aggravation, or recurrence when surgery has been indicated. Lymphangioma and lymphangiomatosis seem to be different forms of the same abnormality of the lymphatic system, either local or scattered.